Unforgettable Things To Do in Quito
Sitting in my apartment on a Friday evening I did what I usually do when my mind starts wandering…search for cheap flights to places I wanna see. I had a few weeks to go somewhere before starting a new job and I was determined to use that time wisely.
It didn’t take too long to find a solution either…$175 one-way to Quito! (I really do appreciate you Skyscanner.) I mean yesssss it leaves on Monday, but who in their right mind would turn that down? Clearly not me.
After an incredible summer a few years ago in both Colombia and Brazil, I fully realized how much I appreciate Latin culture…hence my heightened interest in exploring South America. You might be asking why? Well…Great food. A little sun. Beautiful women. All things I’m quite fond of.
Quito: One of The World’s Highest Cities
Touching down in Quito requires a bit of time to adjust to the elevation. At nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, many visitors need a few days to get acclimated. Oddly I don’t think it really bothered me much, but keep in mind that I’m often prone to neglecting the red flags my body throws at me. That being said…I definitely had an initial shortage of oxygen while surveying the city.
Ride the Teleferico for Elevation in Quito
I checked into the hotel, got acquainted, and hopped in a cab to find Teleferico. It’s a great attraction that allows visitors to ride a cable car to the top of a mountain, where the elevation is nearly 13,000 feet! From here you can see a longgg way across the Andes. It’s as beautiful as it sounds, and would’ve been far more enjoyable had I prepared for the cold. Sometimes the excitement of something new takes me to a place where rationality is nowhere to be found…this was one of those times.
Of course it’s going to be FREEZING at 13,000 feet!! Smooth move Marcus. Another humbling moment to learn from, but don’t be fooled…I didn’t let the cold hold me back. The power of the mind is a pretty amazing phenomenon…and that power was utilized a few times during mytrip.
Taste Ceviche in Quito
After an incredible sunset from a vantage point above the clouds, I was determined to find some great food. It took a while to find a cab in a sketchy neighborhood, but it all worked out. I ended up rolling into this awesome little restaurant near my accommodation called Fried Bananas. The ceviche was fresh and everything my cravings had longed for.
Exploring The Old City of Quito
The next day I woke up early to tag along a walking tour. I’ve always had very positive experiences with these and highly recommend them to travelers of any destination. They’re often free with the expectation that participants tip at the end based on their level of satisfaction. It’s a dynamic which I believe works very well, and provides an option to see the city’s highlights by foot. The value of being on foot to take in the sights, smells, and sounds of the culture far exceeds the experience had in a vehicle. And for obsessive photographers like myself it allows you to move at a better pace.
Our first stop was at the central market. Here you find dozens of stalls, each selling a variety of goods that mostly included fruits and flowers. Prices are as low as expected, and offer the experience of fresh juices never consumed before. We moved on to explore some more of the old city charm. Quito certainly has its share of good and bad, and there’s no question the influence of the Spanish left some breathtaking structure. The older generation of women also seemed to be very in touch with their roots, as their dress attire often included bright colors and their long, jet black hair seeped from their top hats in a meticulously braided fashion.
Plaza de La Independencia
Browsing the city revealed a president’s palace with Ecuadorians lined up for blocks, anxious to peak into their leader’s life. Point a few blocks in any direction and you’ll find incredibly crafted cathedrals. La Iglesia de La Compania de Jesus. Catedral Metropolitana. El Sagrario. Each of them maintain a powerful historic presence. We kept moving with stops at some of the local sugar shops. I’m not sure that’s what they’re actually called…pero hay mucho azucar! Literally anything you can think of infused with sugar. They’re all about it. My healthy conscious wouldn’t allow me to indulge more than some taste testing, and truthfully I was far more inclined to dive in some empanadas.
Our tour ended mid-afternoon and I spent some time people watching at the Plaza de La Independencia. Here you get a mix of police officers patrolling for thieves, young children trying to make a buck polishing shoes, and an older generation of Ecuadorians congregating with music, conversation, and card games. Pretty satisfactory experience for a few hours when you add some highly temperamental and politically charged Ecuadorians fired up about what the government is doing wrong for the people.
Churches in Quito
Next stop was at Catedral Metropolitana. Pretty amazing blend of strong hues stained to the glass and beautiful panoramic views of Quito from the spires. Inside you’ll find shops burning with incense and crazy cool cultural artifacts from past generations. And for those looking for a bit of a thrill, you can literally climb an unforgiving ladder to the finial top. Of course I did it…sunset over the Andes is a sight not to be missed.
Calle Ronda is considered the oldest street in the city of Quito. A stroll through definitely reveals its appeal to tourists as I was swarmed with poor sales pitches from several different restaurants. I personally don’t respond well to these attempts unless its accompanied by an attractive woman worth getting to know. No lookers equals no business for Calle Ronda. I elected to revisit my comfort zone at Fried Bananas, where they filled me with a whole trout…literally…eyes, fins, and all.
El Virgen Del Panecillo
What to do on my third day in the world’s second highest capital city…Remember what I said about walking tours being the best way to explore a city? Well, I’m still holding on to that…but I did choose to do the bus tour today. The biggest factor in this decision being that I wanted to be able to extend my reach a bit more. In an ideal world I would’ve rented a car, but this didn’t appeal to me as a place where that’s a comfortable experience…just too densely populated with crazy drivers and crime aficionados.
Anyway, there’s certainly no denying that a bus provides a nice view for pictures as well. The main stop for today was a visit up to El Panecillo, where La Virgen de Quito watches over the city. Her construction most evident with a crown of stars and chained dragon within her grasp, resembling Khaleesi from Game of Thrones…just not quite as good looking.
Empanadas and Cuy – Ecuador and Cuisine
I chose to head back to the main plaza and see what kind of activity might spark interest. A couple of cool encounters with some kids and brief exchanges in Spanish. One of them insisted on polishing my Pumas…obviously not suitable for the service they provide but I didn’t have the heart to turn him down.
The guinea pig is a huge hit here and I had to try it. After several ventures to find a reliable source I ended up in a joint around the block from my hotel. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t great. I’m not sure if that was a reflection of the particular preparation or the animal itself. I wasn’t inclined enough to dig deeper for the answer to that question. The solution was an extra order of empanadas…can’t go wrong with those. On to the Galapagos…
